RAMAYANA TOUR 09 NIGHTS 10 DAYS – Boutique Hotels

DAY 01 – AIRPORT / NEGOMBO

• Arrival by Evening flight. Meet our guide on arrival and transfer to Negombo and check-in to the Goldi Sands Hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 02 – NEGOMBO / MUNNESHWARAM TEMPLE / MANAWARI TEMPLE

• After breakfast, proceed to Chilaw and visit Munishwaram Temple & Manavari Temple. Open luncheon. After lunch, proceed to Sigiriya and check-in to the Fresco Water Villa for dinner and overnight stay.
• Munishwaram Temple It is believed that Munishwaram predates the Ramayana and a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva was located here. Munishwaram means the first temple for Shiva (Munnu + Easwaran).
• Manavari Temple Manavari is the first lingam installed and prayed by Rama and till date this lingam is called as Ramalinga Shivan. Rameshwaram is the only other lingam in world named after Lord Rama.

Day 03 – SIGIRIYA / KONESHWARAM / SHANKARI DEVI TEMPLE [SHAKTHI PEETHAM]

• After breakfast, proceed to Trincomalee and visit Koneshwaram Temple and Shankari Devi Temple in Trincomalee. Thereafter, check-in to the Sea Lotus Park Hotel. After lunch, visit the Hot Wells in Kanniya. Evening return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
• Koneswaram Temple Koneswaram temple of Trincomalee (also historically known as the Thirukonamamalai Konesar Kovil, the Temple of the Thousand Pillars and Thiru- Konamamalai Maccakeswaram Kovil) is an Hindu temple in Trincomalee, Eastern Province, Sri Lanka venerated by Saivites throughout the continent. It is built atop Swami Rock, a rocky promontory cape overlooking Trincomalee, a classical period harbour port town.
• Shankari Temple The famed SHANKARI Temple, in Sri Lanka, is one of the 18 Devi Temples (Ashta Dasha Shakti Peethas). Many have heard the Ashtadasha Shakti Peetha Shloka starting with LANKAAYAAM SHAANKARI DEVI. Composed by Sri Adi Shankara which means Shankari in Lanka. This Shloka enumerates the list of places of Devi temples which are considered to be part of the 18 Devi Peethas.
• Hot Wells Kanniya The hot wells of Kanniyai or Kanniya are close to the main road to Anuradhapura only about 10 kms from Trincomalee town. Pilgrims believe in their healing power. There are many different versions of the myth on how these curative hot water wells came into existence; most of them are connected to Ravana. One legend about Kanniya’s origin has it, that this is the place where King Ravana carried out the last rites for his mother. When he was unable to find water to duly perform the rites, he in anger pierced his Trishula into the ground seven times.
• Water started gushing out immediately. The very hot water cooled down to the present degree when Ravana’s anger calmed down. The temperature of the water is different in all the seven wells.

Day 04 – TRINCOMALEE / MATALE / KANDY

• After breakfast, proceed to Kandy via Matale. Visit a spice garden and have a typical Sri Lankan rice and curry. Thereafter, proceed to Kandy and check- in to the Senani Hotel. Rest and relax. Evening visit the Temple of the Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha. Thereafter, see a cultural show of Folk Lore and Kandyan Dances. Late evening return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 05 – KANDY / HANUMAN TEMPLE / NUWARAELIYA

• After breakfast, proceed to Nuwara Eliya. Enroute, visit a tea factory and have a cup of freshly brewed famous Ceylon Tea. Thereafter, visit Hanuman Temple. Arrive in Nuwara Eliya and check-in to the Oakray Summer Hill Breeze. Resembles an old English town, complete with a lake, race track, well- kept lawns with hedges, an Anglican Church and an 18 hole golf course. Dinner and overnight at Nuwara Eliya.
• Sri Bhakta Hanuman Temple In the hills of Ramboda where Hanuman was searching for Sita, the Chinmaya Mission of Sri Lanka built the Sri Bhakta Hanuman Temple which is visited by thousands of devotees every year.

Day 06 – SEETHA AMMAN TEMPLE / HAKGALA GARDEN /DIVURUMPOLA

• After breakfast, visit Sitha Amman Temple, Divurumpola and Hakgala Garden. Open Luncheon. After lunch, continue sightseeing of Nuwara Eliya. Evening, return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
• Sita Amman Temple The prominent temple architecture will not fail to attract your attention. Ancient statues of Rama and Sita can be seen on one side of the temple. The temple today is a modern building with its paintings, statues and pillars decorated with sculptures; all depicting the tale of Rama and Sita.
• Hakgala Botanical Gardens This is the exotic pleasure garden where King Ravana kept the depressed Sita, insisting that she marries him. It was here where the heartwarming meeting took place between her and Hanuman, who brought her Rama’s ring with the news that Rama was looking for her. He offered to carry her back but she refused saying it would be an insult to Rama’s honor if she did so. Part of this majestic garden still exists. It is also said that Hanuman nearly destroyed it in order to prove to Ravana of the forces against him.
• Divurumpola Temple This is the place where Seetha Devi underwent “Agni Pariksha” (test). It is a popular place of worship among locals in this area. Divurumpola means place of oath in Sinhala. The legal system permits and accepts the swearing done at this temple while settling disputes between parties.

Day 07 – NUWARA ELIYA / RAVANA WATERFALL / KATARAGAMATEMPLE

• After breakfast, proceed to Kataragama. En-route see the Rawana Ella waterfalls. Continue to Kataragama and check-in to the Mandara Rosen. After lunch, visit Kataragama Temple. Late evening, return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
• Ravana Ella Waterfalls It is said that Ravana had kidnapped princess Sita, and had hidden her in the caves behind this waterfall, now simply known as the Ravana Ella Cave. At the time, the cave was surrounded with thick forests in the midst of wilderness. It is also believed that Rama’s queen bathed in a pool that accumulated the water falling from this waterfall.
• Kataragamam Temple Kataragamam Temple, is a Hindu and Buddhist Temple complex dedicated to Skanda- Murukan also known as Kataragama deviyo.

Day 08 – KATARAGAMA / USSANGODA / COLOMBO 

• After breakfast, proceed to Colombo. En-route visit Ussangoda. Thereafter, visit the 17th Century Galle Dutch Fort. Open luncheon. After lunch, visit Moonstone Mines, Mask Factory and Madu River Boat Safari. Thereafter, proceed to Colombo and check-in to the Fairway Colombo for dinner and overnight stay.
• Ussangoda After meeting Seetha Devi Lord Hanuman decided to test the strength of the mighty King Ravana and his army of Rakshasas. In the event that unfolded Lord Hanuman’s tail was set on fire by the Rakshasas, who in turn went on to torch some parts of King Ravana’s empire. Ussangoda is one of the torched areas, which is said to have been an airport used by King Ravana.

Day 09 – ANJANEYAR TEMPLE / KELANIYA [VIBEESHANA] TEMPLE

• Afterbreakfast visit the first Anjaneyar Temple in Colombo and Kelaniya Temple. Open Luncheon. After lunch, proceed to Negombo and check-in to the Goldi Sands. Evening visit the Negombo Fishing Village. Evening, return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
• Anjaneyar Temple This is the first Anjaneyar Temple in Sri Lanka and also the only Panchamuga (five faced) Anjaneyar Temple in Sri Lanka. Its the only temple in the world to have a chariot for Ajanyear.
• Kelaniya Temple After King Ravana’s death, Vibeeshana was coroneted as King of Lanka by Lakshmana at Kelaniya. There are murals enshrined outside the Buddhist temple depicting the crowning of Vibeeshana. The Kelani River is mentioned in the Valmiki Ramayana and Vibeeshana palace was said to be on the banks of this river.

Day 10 – NEGOMBO / AIRPORT / DEPARTURE

• After breakfast, proceed to Airport for the departure flight.